commonly applied among them to those who made their need known by begging. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, therefore explained that someone who makes his need known by begging and receives gifts from people has his poverty relieved by their gifts; begging serves him as a means of earning a living. Although he is needy and entitled to zakat if what he receives from other sources does not suffice, once he finds someone who gives him enough, he is no longer needy. Rather, the truly needy person is someone in need who neither begs nor is recognized as needy and therefore given assistance.
This is the person who must be given priority when assistance is distributed, for his need is certain, whereas the other person’s need is relieved by the gifts of those whom he asks. The same applies to his statement:
“Islam consists of the five.”
He means that all these duties are obligatory and included in Islam; a person may not content himself with affirming the two testimonies of faith. Likewise, faith must encompass the details described here; a general affirmation of faith is not enough. This is why he described Islam in this way.
Muslims agree that anyone who does not affirm the two testimonies of faith is a disbeliever. As for the other four duties, they disagree over whether abandoning them constitutes disbelief. When we say, “The people of the Sunnah agree that a person does not become a disbeliever by committing a sin,” we mean acts of disobedience such as unlawful sexual intercourse and drinking alcohol. As for these foundational duties, there is a well-known disagreement over whether abandoning them constitutes disbelief.
The reports from Ahmad differ on this matter. According to one report, anyone who abandons any one of these duties becomes a disbeliever. This is the position preferred by Abū Bakr and a group of Mālik’s followers, including Ibn Habīb.
According to a second report from him, only abandoning prayer and zakat constitutes disbelief. According to a third, only abandoning prayer and zakat constitutes disbelief, if the person fights the ruler over this. According to a fourth, only abandoning prayer constitutes disbelief.
According to a fifth, abandoning any of these duties does not constitute disbelief. These are well-known positions held by the early generations.
Al-Hakam ibn ʿUtaybah said:
“Whoever deliberately abandons prayer has disbelieved. Whoever deliberately abandons zakat has disbelieved. Whoever deliberately abandons pilgrimage has disbelieved. And whoever abandons fasting